MLB Draft Preview: West Virginia

In the weeks leading up to the draft, Perfect Game will be providing a detailed overview of each state in the U.S., including the District of Columbia, as well as Canada and Puerto Rico. These overviews will list the state's strengths, weaknesses and the players with the best tools, as well as providing scouting reports on all Group 1 and 2 players as ranked in Perfect Game's state-by-state scouting lists. Please visit this page for all of the links to Perfect Game's 2013 Draft Preview content.

West Viriginia State-by-State ListIt’s
shaping up to be an exceptional year in the state of West Virginia.
And, most noteworthy is that for the first time since 1997, the state
may produce a first round draft pick. Marshall’s Aaron Blair
entered the season with a chance to be that player, and he’s only
continued to build that momentum as the spring has moved along.

Everyone
knew that Blair would be a top level draft pick entering the spring,
but what we did not predict was that there would be other emerging
college pitching talents worthy of going in the top five rounds. As
it turns out, West Virginia University has two arms making a push for
the early rounds in Harrison Musgrave and Corey Walter. As a whole,
the Mountaineers have done a fantastic job of holding their own in
the Big-12, boasting a lineup with some power to go along with a
couple hard throwing arms. It’s clearly a program on the rise that
could be providing more draft talent in the coming years.

TOP
PROSPECTS, GROUPS 1 and 2
GROUP
1 (rounds 1-3)1. AARON
BLAIR, rhp, Marshall University (Jr.)If
not for the historical performance of Sean Manaea last summer, there
would not have been a more talked about pitcher in the Cape Cod
League than Aaron Blair. He worked at 90-94 mph for the Y-D Red Sox,
and showed two above average secondary offerings. His change was
arguably his best pitch, coming in at 83-85 mph with late fading
action. It was proved to be a consistent swing-and-miss pitch that he
was able to locate with ease to left handed batters. He also proved
willing to pitch backwards with it, or go to it behind in counts. A
little less consistent for him was his curveball, which flashed plus
action at 76-79 mph. There were nights when this pitch didn’t show
up consistently before him, but when he was right, it was a
legitimate three above average pitch arsenal. He ended the summer
with a 6-0 record with a 1.17 ERA, striking out 44 in 38 1/3 innings
of work. And, as good as he was last summer, he’s been even better
this spring, at least in terms of stuff. He’s consistently reached
96 mph with his fastball, and according to scouts, has been more
consistent and sharp with his curveball. His big league frame, at
6-foot-5, 220-pounds, and of course his arsenal, makes him a a
legitimate candidate to go in the 25-30 range in the first round.

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